Which area high school player did Yankees take on Day 3 of draft?

Garrett Nuss has signed with UCF and led Mount Dora to a state tournament appearance this spring

June 8, 2011|By Joe Williams, Orlando Sentinel

As the rounds of the Major League Baseball draft wore on, Mount Dora's Garrett Nuss quit paying attention.

But, early Wednesday afternoon, he got the phone call he has been waiting for his whole life. Nuss, a right-handed pitcher who led the Hurricanes to their first appearance in the state tournament, was picked by the New York Yankees in the 32nd round.

"It's pretty cool knowing that I will get an opportunity to play professional baseball," Nuss said. "It is just another chapter in my life.

"And being picked by the New York Yankees is really cool. When people think of baseball, they think of the New York Yankees. It is cool to maybe have a chance to go up there and play with one of the best franchises ever."

Nuss, a first-team selection on the All-Central Florida team and a signee with UCF, had an 11-1 record this past season for the Hurricanes with a 0.96 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 56 innings.

"It's very exciting," said Gary Nuss, Garrett's father and the pitching coach for the Hurricanes this past season. "The Yankees are a top organization.

"It's been agonizing for him as the draft was going on. We had heard a lot of different things as far as rounds about where he would be going compared to where he went. But I guess it all worked out."

Oviedo right-hander Ryan Meyer went earlier in the 32nd round, to the Baltimore Orioles.

jrwilliams@tribune.com or 352-742-5921. Read Joe Williams' blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/varsityblog. Sign up for the Varsity sports newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.